Spooler.



'. PATENTED NOV. 24;, 1903.

A. E. RHOADES.

SPOOLEB...

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2a. 1903.

2 MEETS-SHEET 1.

mmu

N0 MODEL.

. .WmmM W Wm No. 744,797. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

A. E. RHOADES. I

SPOOLER.

APPLICATION IILED' MAR, 23. 1903. no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

to. ma /9%.

UNITED STATES I atented November 24, 1903 PATENT rrrcn.

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

SPOOLER.

ssEGl3 IGATQJN forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,797, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed March 23, 1903.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO E. Rnonnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of \Vorcester andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Spoolers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to spooling machines, and one of the principal objects of the invention is the production of novel means foreffecting the traverse of the thread-guides by or through which the thread or yarn is laid upon the spools.

Heretofore the vertical reciprocation of the thread-guides has been effected by means in cluding vertically-movable slide-rods, which are apt to stick in their bearings, either because of the entrance of dirt thereto or because the rods get out of alinement. Inasmuch as their motion is directly up and down there is a very unequal Wear upon the lips or blades of the thread-guides, caused by the continued travel of the thread over the same portion. As the spool fills up this thread path is changed, it is true, and moves laterally along the edge of the lip, butsuch change of path is so slow that in practice the threadguides are gradually cut into or'worn into grooves, and the life of a guide is thereby shortened very materially. In my present invention I have overcome this objection and equalized the wear on the thread-guides by imparting to the latter a slight lateral traverse or reciprocation in addition to the usual vertical traverse. The lateral movement causes the yarn-path to change continuously from one to the other end of the lip or blade of the guide, so that the wear thereupon is distrib uted evenly and uniformly, completely obviatingthe formation of grooves, notches, (to.

By my invention I am also enabled to decreasethe'depth of the spooler-frame very materially, for heretofore the rocker motion required a certain distance between the sides of the frame in order to obtain such a length of lever-arm aswould impart the required amount of reciprocation to the upright lifterrods-that is, the rocker-arms have been ful- Serial No. 149.006. (No model.)

crumed midway between the sides, and necessarily the stroke of the lifter-rods was proportional to the length of the rocker-arms. The lifter-rods were of necessity located back of the bobbin-boxes, so that the width of the frame between boxes was thereby determined. In my present invention, as will appear hereinafter, the distance between the sides can be so decreased that space is provided between the bobbin-boxes and the frame sides, permitting the employment of intermediate hoppers or chutes to receive the spent or empty bobbins, the latter being withdrawn from the bottoms of the hoppers into a removable box or other receptacle as occasion demands.

The various novel features of my invention will be described hereinafter, and particularly .pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation, broken out to economize space, of a spooler embody- 7o ing one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a right-hand end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken out, of a bobbin box and a hopper for spent bobbins shown in Fig. 2, but omitted in Fig. 1 in order that other parts of the apparatus should appear more clearly; and Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of a member of the traverse mechanism to be referred to.

The main frame A, drum-shaft A for drivin g the rotatable spool-carriers (shown as the spindles S) on which are mounted the spools A to receive the thread or yarn from the bobbins, the rods B for the bobbin-holders, the thread guides 25, mounted on the traverserods T, and the man gle-motion M may be and are all substantially of well-known construc tion. The mangle-motion includes a drum m, secured to a gear m mounted to rotate on a stud m on the frame, the gear meshing with a second gear m which is rotated in one direction and then in the opposite direction in well-known manner-substantially as, for instance, in United States Patent No. 387,396, dated August 7, 1888-00 wind a chain m Fig. 1, upon the drum and then to unwind it to effect the vertical traverse of the thread guides. As is usual in spoofing-machines, the spindles are arranged at the upper part of the machine, at the front and rear sides I00 thereof, on suitable longitudinal spindle-rails S I prefer to divide each series of spoolcarriers into two groups, and each group is served by thread guides on a traverse-rod, so that instead of having one continuous traverse-rod at each side of the frame I use two of such rods and have herein shown such an arrangement. As will be explained hereinafter, one rod rises as the other rod on the same side of the frame falls; but the two rods at opposite sides of the frame rise or fall together, thereby equalizing the load upon the mechanism for effecting the traverse.

The rails S are provided with oppositelylocated bearings 19 for the journals y of swinging or oscillating yoke-like members Y, the journals thereof being transverse to the frame, so that the yokes are fulcrumed to swing between the frame sides, as clearly shown in the drawings. The journals 3 extend considerably beyond the bearings 11, and each journal has ad justably secured to it by set-screws 3 the hubs a of short arms a, extended in the direction of the length of the main frame and laterally offset and upturned at their free ends, as at 00*. (See Fig. 4.) These arms or elbows being fixedly secured to the several yokes Y move therewith when the latter are swung or oscillated on their fulcra, and the angular movement of the elbows or arms a on the fulcra y control the angular movement of elongated rocker arms R, the hubs r of the said rocker-arms being loosely fulcrumed on the journals y, as shown in the drawings. The lower edges of the rocker-arms rest in the seat-like portions a of the elbows a. The rocker-arms are arranged in tandem at each side of the frame and can rock in vertical planes, and referring to Fig. 1 the rockerarms at the left-hand side of the drawing extend to the right from their fulcra and are connected with one of the traverse-rods T by means to be described, while at the other or right-hand end of the frame the rocker-arms will extend from their fulcra to the left or toward the middle of the frame, and they are connected with the other traverse-rod. Each rocker-arm has at its free end a lateral stud 0, which passes loosely through a hub or boss d of a depending link d, rigidly secured at its upper end to the traverse-rod, so that each rocker-arm of a set is thereby connected with the corresponding traverse-rod. Now when the rocker-arms R of any set swing upward they will act through the links cl to raise the connected traverse-rod and the thread -guides mounted thereon, and the downward swing of the rocker-arms moves the traverse-rod downward, so that this vertical reciprocation of the thread-guide effects the usual traverse to lay the thread upon the spool. Inasmuch,

causes the threads passing to the-spools to constantly change their position on the lips or blades of the thread-guides, moving in and out thereover, and thus equalizing the wear.

Vhen a thread-guide moves up and down only, the change of the thread-path along the lip or blade of the thread-guide is so slow, being due, of course, merely to the growth of the thread mass on the spool, that grooves or nicks are worn in the lips of the thread-guide. By providing for a longitudinal movement of the traverse-rod, as herein set forth,such wear is prevented, and the thread-guides are maintained in proper working condition.

The weight of the parts carried by the free ends of the rocker-arms R is sufficient to maintain the arms in the seats a of the elbows a, and by angularly adjusting such elbows the upper and lower points of the vertical traverse can be adjusted.

In the structure shown the oppositely-extended journals 'y of each yoke support two rocker-arms B, one on each journal, and consequently those pairs of rocker-arms will rise or fall in unison and the opposite traverserods will rise and fall together.' The rods at the left-hand half of the frame, viewing Fig. 1, will rise, while the rods at the right half will fall, owing to the difference in direction of the cooperating rocker-arms. Of course it is to be understood that the number of rocker-arms operatively connected with any traverse-rod will depend upon the length of the frame, the longer the frame the greater the number of rocker-arms required.

The several yokes, or actuators, as they may be termed, are connected to swing or oscillate in unison, and to this end each yoke is provided with an ear y, adapted to receive loosely through it a stud f, forming a part of a hub f a cotter-pin or other suitable device 5 passed through the stud holding it in the ear 1/. A rod F long enough to extend from one to the other of the extreme endmost rockers passes through a hole in each hub f and is rigidly secured thereto by a set-screw 6. Longitudinal reciprocation of the rod F will therefore act to swing or oscillate the yokes on their journals or axes y in unison, and the reciprocation of the rod F is effected by or through the mangle-motion M. The chain m passes up over a guide-sheave m adjustably mounted on a bracket A on the frame, the free end of the chain being led to a segmental shoe m and attached to a downturned ear m forming a part of the shoe. The chain leads along and contacts with the under longitudinally-curved surface on. At the back of the shoe an upright lug m is provided, adapted to be bolted to a corresponding lug g on one of the yokes Y, and in practice this yoke will preferably be one of those near the center of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. A flexible connection or chain m attached at one end to the outer end of the shoe and at its other end to a weight W, passes over a a guide-sheave m mounted on the frame, the weight acting to move the rod F to the right, viewing Fig. 1, when the chain m is unwound from the drum 'm. l/Vhen the drum is oppositely turned to wind up the chain, the rod F is moved to the left and the swing of the yokes in that direction is effected. The particular mangle motion or mechanism for effecting this reciprocation of the rod F to thereby operate the traverse motion of the thread-guides forms no .part of mypresent invention, as any suitable mechanism can be employed.

A very even and uniform traverse motion is effected by the construction herein shown and described, and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the sides of the main frame can be brought much nearer each other than is the common practice, it only being necessary to provide space for the oscillating yokes Y, and they in turn are to a certain extent dominated by the diameter of the drivingdrum, by which the spool-carriers are rotated. This contraction of the depth of the frame enables me to utilize a space behind the usual full-bobbin boxes, and in my present invention I have arranged hoppers in such spaces to receive the spent bobbins, the hoppers being so constructed, as will be described, to permit of ready emptying into a removable box or other receptacle whenever necessary.

Referring to Fig. 2, the side frames are provided with outwardly-projectin g struts A on which fullbobbin boxes E are mounted, these boxes in practice being usually made of sheet metal and extending beneath the bobbin-holders, the tops e of the boxes being rearwardly inclined, and the lower edges of these tops extend substantially to the upper ends or months of hoppers H, which are interposed between the back walls 6 of the boxes E and the sides of the frame. In Fig. 3 one of the hoppers is shown, its end walls h sloping downward and toward each other to a discharge-opening h at the bottom of the hop per. A sliding gate or closure k is mounted in suitable guideways a and when the gates are pushed in, as shown in Fig. 2, the spent bobbins can collect in the hoppers until the latter are full. By drawing the hopper gate outward the contents of the hopper can be discharged from the opening h thereof into a removable box or receptacle and taken away to be refilled. The inclined tops 6 of the full-bobbin boxes E serve to direct the spent bobbins into the mouths of the hoppers as the bobbins are ejected from the bobbinholders. The bobbin-holders (indicated as a whole at B may be of any suitable construction, and herein I have shown them as side-ejecting holders, the guards g being mounted in a carrier g which is mounted to rock on the overhanging arm g, the latter being clamped to the supporting-rod B in usual manner. This particular form of bobbin-holder is not herein claimed, as it forms the subjectqnatter of United States Patent No. 731,617, dated June 23, 1903. In practice.

each hopper will receive the spent bobbins from aplurality of bobbin-holders, the hoppers being placed end to end behind the bobbin-boxes, as shown in Fig. 3.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, as the same may be modified or rearranged in various particulars by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

When setting up the frame the several elbows a are secured to the yoke-journals y by their set-screws 3, and then the rocker-arms R are connected with the traverse-rod. It is usual to level up the latter, and the general leveling is accomplished by adjusting the el bows a; but a finerand more delicate adj ustment may be effected by adjusting-screws c1 which pass up through the seats a as shown clearlyin Fig. 1, and bear against the lower sides of the rocker'arms R. A leveling up of the traverse-rod can be made by the two eudmost elbows and their adjusting-screws c4 and when the rod is level the adjustingscrews of the other elbows can be set up to the proper point.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, elongated thread-guides, and means to reciprocate them vertically and impart a movement thereto in the direction of their length transversely to the paths of travel of the threads, to equalize the wear upon the thread-guides, such movement of the latter in the direction of their length accompanying each vertical reciprocation thereof.

2. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, and means to reciprocate said support verticallyand impart a longitudinal movement thereto, to equalize the wear upon the thread-guides.

3. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarrying spindles, a traverse-rod, threadguides mounted thereon to direct the thread to the spools, and means to effect vertical traverse of the rod and impart thereto a slight longitudinal reciprocatory movement.

4. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarrying spindles, threadguides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, means, including rocker-arms fulcrumed transversely to the spindles, and links pivotally connected with said arms and rigidly to the support, to eifect vertical traverse of the thread-guides and cause a slight lateral reciprocation thereof across the paths of travel of the threads, to equalize the wear on said guides.

5. In a spooler, the main frame, aseries of rotatable spool-carrying spindles, transverse yokes mounted to swing on fulcra at right angles to the length of the frame, rockerarms operatively connected with the yokes and movable in upright curved paths, links pivotally connected with the rocker-arms, thread guides, a rod on which they are mounted and to which the links are rigidly attached, and means to swing the yokes.

6. In a spooler, the-main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted 011 each side thereof, a traverse-rod and attached threadguides for each series, and means operatively connected with the traverse-rods to vertically reciprocate them in unison and impart thereto a longitudinal reciprocation of less extent.

7. In a spooler, the main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on each side thereof, a traverse-rod and attached threadguides for each series, rigidly-attached links depending from said rods, a series of rockerarms mounted to rock on fulcra transverse to the frame, the free ends of the arms being pivotally connected with the links, and means to rock the two series of arms in unison, to traverse the thread -guides and reciprocate them slightly in the direction of the length of the frame.

8. In a spooler, the main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on each side thereof, a traverse-rod and attached thread- .guides for each series, connected yokes mounted to swing on axes transverse to the frame, means to swing the yokes, and connections between the latter and the traverserods, whereby when the yokes swing the rods are vertically traversed and reciprocated to a less degree in the direction of their length.

9. In a spooler, a main frame, two series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on the sides thereof, a traverse-rod for each series, having attached thread-guides, a set of rocking arms having their fulcra transverse to the frame and operatively connected with each traverserod, and means to oppositely rock the arms of the two sets.

' 10. In a spooler, a rotatable spool-carrier, a thread-guide in cooperative relation therewith, a swinging actuator journaled transversely of theframe, a rocker-arm adj ustably connected with the actuator and operatively connected with the thread-guide, to reciprocate the latter vertically and also transversely,

to a less degree, by swinging movement of the actuator, and means to swing the latter.

11. In a spooler, a main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers on each side thereof, cooperating thread-guides for each series, a traverse-rod on which each set of guides is mounted, oscillating yokes journaled transversely of the frame, rocker-arms adjustably mounted on the yokes and radial to their fulera, connections between the free ends of each set of rocker-arms and one of the traverse-rods, and means to oscillate the yokes, such movement of the latter acting through the rocker-arms and their connections to effect vertical and also slight longitudinal reciprocation of the traverse-rods, to equalize the wear on the thread-guides.

12. In a spooler, a main frame, a series of rotatable spool carriers mounted thereon, thread-guides, a traverse -rod to which they are attached, depending, rigidly attached links on said rod,yokes j ournaled transversely of the frame, a rocker-arm fulcrumed coaxially with each yoke and pivotally connected at its free end with one of the said links, an angularly-adj ustable elbow on each yoke, extended beneath and to support the adjacent rocker-arm, and means to oscillate the yokes.

13. In a spooler, a main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on the side thereof, thread-guides, an elongated support to which they are secured, rocker-arms operatively connected with said support and fulcrumed transversely thereto upon the main frame, and means to rock the arms to effect vertical traverse of the thread-guides.

14. In a spooler, a main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on the side thereof, a traverse-rod, thread-guides thereon, a plurality of rocker-arms mounted in tandem on the frame and fulcrumed transversely thereto, connections between the free ends of said rocker arms and the traverserod, and means to rock the arms and thereby effect vertical reciprocation of the threadguides.

15. In a spooler, a main frame, a series of rotatable spool-carriers mounted on each side thereof, a traverse-rod and attached threadguides for each series, pairs of rocker-arms fulcrumed transversely of the frame on opposite sides thereof, the arms at each side being in tandem and operatively connected with the adjacent traverse-rod, a yoke-like, oscillating connection between each pair of rocker-arms, and means to oscillate said connections in unison to effect traverse of the thread-guides.

16. Ina spooler, aseries of bobbin-holders, a hopper located beneath and adapted to receive the spent bobbins from a plurality of bobbin-holders, a receptacle for full bobbins located in front of the hopper and having an inclined top terminating at its lower edge at the open mouth of the hopper, to direct spent bobbins thereinto.

17. In a spooler, a series of bobbin-holders, a hopper located beneath and adapted to receive the spent bobbins from a plurality of bobbin-holders, said hopper having sloping ends and a discharge-opening in its bottom, a movable closure for said opening, and a full-bobbin receptacle in front of the hopper and havinga rearwardlyand downwardly inclined top terminating at its lower edge at the open mouth of the hopper, to direct ejected bobbins therelnto.

18. In a spooler, a series of sideejecting bobbin-holders, an elongated hopper having IIC sloping ends, located beneath and adapted to receive ejected bobbins from a plurality of bobbin-holders, and a ful1-b0bbin receptacle in front of the hopper and provided with an inclined top the bottom edge thereof terminating at the open mouth of the hopper, to assist in directing spent bobbins thereinto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALONZO E. RI-IOADES.

Witnesses:

GEORGE OTIS DRAPER, ERNEST W. W001). 

